Process for the isomerization of a halogenated toluene

This invention relates to a process for the isomerization of a halogenated toluene.

The halogenated toluene as referred to herein is a compound resulting from substitution of one hydrogen atom attached to the toluene nucleus by a halogen atom, and it is o-, m- or p-halotoluene.

In general, a halogenated toluene is obtained by a nuclear substitution reaction of toluene with halogen. This halogenation reaction is a strongly o,p-orienting reaction, so that in case it is desired to obtain m-isomer, it is necessary to isomerize o- or p-isomer. The ratio of demand for the halotoluene isomers is in many cases different from their production ratio at the time of halogenation. Therefore, in order to utilize halogenated toluenes effectively, the isomerization process has an important technical meaning.

As conventional examples of such an isomerization reaction there have been known the method disclosed in Olah, G. A., "J. Org. Che." 27, 3464 (1962) which uses aluminum chloride etc. as a catalyst and the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11809/71 which uses HF-BF 3 as a catalyst. However, these conventional methods for the isomerization reaction involve problems such that the catalyst activity is not sufficient and a long reaction time or a large amount of catalyst is needed, and further that the reaction vessel is corroded and it is difficult to separate the reaction product from catalyst components. Thus, none of them have been desirable as industrial isomerization methods.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages associated with the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide a process for efficient isomerization of a halogenated toluene at a high catalyst activity while suppressing the formation of by-products.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

The aforesaid objects of this invention can be attained by a process for the isomerization of a halogenated toluene characterized by contacting the halogenated toluene with an acid form of zeolite.

Halogenated toluenes to be fed in the isomerization reaction of this invention are o-, m- and p-halotoluenes. The halogen in these halogenated toluenes may be chlorine, bromine, iodine and fluorine, but chlorine is most general.

Zeolites which may be used in the invention involve both natural and synthetic zeolites provided they must have a pore diameter permitting a halogenated toluene to diffuse thereinto under reaction conditions. And there is no special limit to their crystal structure. However, since the zeolite used in the isomerization reaction of the invention functions as a solid acid catalyst, a too low atomic ratio of silicon to aluminum is not desirable because it would cause lowering in acid strength and insufficiency of catalyst activity. Zeolites which are used preferably have a silicon to aluminum atomic ratio of not less than 2, and particularly preferred is mordenite.

In the isomerization reaction of the invention there are used acid form of zeolites. Acid form of zeolites, as well known, contain H + , NH 4 + , or di- or higher polyvalent cations such as rare earth ions, which are obtainable usually by ion-exchanging at least a part of alkali metal ions of zeolite such as sodium with proton, ammonium cation or a polyvalent cation.

The cation exchange amount greatly affects the solid acidity of zeolite, and it is preferable that the atomic ratio of monovalent alkali metal to aluminum atom in the zeolite be as small as possible and particularly preferably not more than 0.1. The ion exchange of zeolite with the foregoing cations may be carried out by known ion-exchange techniques. For example, the ion exchange can be performed easily by treating zeolite with an aqueous solution containing an acid such as hydrochloric acid, an ammonium salt such as ammonium nitrate or a water-soluble salt of a polyvalent cation.

The zeolite used in the isomerization process of this invention usually is in the agglomerated bodies such as granules. There is no special limit to the agglomeration method for the zeolite. Known methods such as rolling, extrusion and compression molding methods are applicable. Binders such as alumina sol and clay may be added in the agglomeration of zeolite. The foregoing ion-exchange treatment may be applied either before or after such agglomeration operation.

The acid form of zeolite bodies thus prepared is activated by calcination usually at 300°-600° C. and then used as catalyst in the isomerization process of this invention. The isomerization process of this invention resides in a catalytic isomerization of a halogenated toluene using the catalyst thus prepared.

Such a reaction can be performed according to various known isomerization procedures, but from the ease of operation the fixed-bed flow type reaction is particularly preferred. The reaction temperature usually ranges from about 200° to about 500° C., particularly preferably from about 200° to about 400° C. The isomerization reaction of this invention may be carried out in the presence of hydrogen, an aromatic hydrocarbon or a halogenated aromatic with a view to prolonging the catalyst life or reducing side reactions. Particularly, if the isomerization reaction is conducted in the presence of a halogenated benzene corresponding to the halogenated toluene, there are obtained preferable results.

Working examples of this invention will be described hereinunder to further illustrate the invention.